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You know what I liked best about this book? I didn't know where it was going. I wasn't sure what decisions the characters would make or if things would work out. At points, I wasn't even sure what "work out" meant for these characters.
This roundup includes picture books for older readers, works that celebrate family and friendship, and inspirational tales for children that you'll want to add to your Spanish-language collections.
These 10 Spanish-language and bilingual early readers are perfect for early elementary kids starting to read independently.
PREMIUM
Daughter
While the premise is alluring, this might be best for a collection where crime and thrillers are in demand over a general purchase.
PREMIUM
Today I’m Strong
Instead of a story with characters readers can cheer for and believe in, this book relies on simplistic tropes and stereotypes.
With its simple, predictable text and bold illustrations, this book is great for teaching a Christian perspective on Christmas.
A manga that promises a sweet romance, beautiful boys, an appealing main character, and enough unique touches to find its own niche in the fantasy romance pack.
With less focus on Santa and more on people coming together for the holiday, this is a lovely read for libraries to add to their Christmas collections.
PREMIUM
Biscuit and the Great Fall Day
Most public libraries will want to add this title to their collection of materials for emergent readers.
PREMIUM
A Secret Princess
Recommend to teens who enjoy A Little Princess and The Secret Garden but have their expectations kept to a medium.
Among pearls of knowledge, there are a few problems, but the idea of animal best friends may prove irresistible to children.
PREMIUM
Sofi and the Bone Song
Perfect for teens making the transition from middle grade to young adult books, although older readers are likely to desire more emotional complexity from both the romance and central plot.
While I wish I could say that burnout can be solved by writing a book, it can’t. But it was a good start and helped me realize how much I love education and teaching. It helped me find my way back to what I love.
During the middle school years, kids are in different phases of development, navigating puberty, exploring their identities, and transitioning from childhood into young adulthood. To say a lot is going on would be an understatement.
A live episode of The Yarn with Christina Soontornvat and Meg Medina
This will be a popular series for elementary and middle school age kids who love humor, science fiction and fun.
PREMIUM
J.R. Silver Writes Her World
Well-paced chapters and captivating characters will keep readers entertained and may also inspire some writing.
A delightful romp through a magical world of fangs and flannel sure to keep young readers on their (twinkle) toes.
This colorful story where the true monsters are the humans will appeal to young graphic novel fans who enjoy cartoony styles and fantasy elements. A suggested purchase for collections where graphic novels circulate well.
PREMIUM
Flip Turns
A recommended purchase for tween collections where swimming, mysteries, and summer romances are popular.
A fun new entry in the field of magical mysteries, this action-packed tale will keep readers engaged and leaves room for a sequel.
PREMIUM
Wild Is the Witch
An atmospheric fantasy novel recommended for readers who appreciate paranormal romance and exploration of mental health themes.
PREMIUM
Meet Me in Mumbai
The dual narratives of Ayesha and Mira provide readers with a contemplative juxtaposition recommended for high school teens.
PREMIUM
The Ballad of Never After
Recommended for fans of romance and fantasy, and where the first book was popular.
A first purchase for all professionals serving older teens who seek to diversify their collection.
This impassioned ride toward the truth, based on a true story, will make readers think about the media bites they consume and white youth’s easy access to radicalization.
PREMIUM
The Charmed List
Fans of the romance genre will recognize tropes including hate-to-love, there’s only one bed, and more in this cozy and engrossing story about second chances and new beginnings.
PREMIUM
The Drowned Woods
This adventurous quest and its unlikely crew will provide an enjoyable escape for readers of all types of fantasy novels.
PREMIUM
A Venom Dark and Sweet
A satisfying conclusion to Lin’s duology, and teens will be clamoring for more.
A sparkling and powerful exploration of grief, gender roles, and escaping the strong grip of expectations, this is a must-purchase for all libraries serving teens.
PREMIUM
Stealing Infinity
An optional purchase: this book is obviously setting the stage for the series, introducing characters, conflict, and suspense with tidbits of more to come. When the next book comes out, hand both to students. The full series might hook readers of time travel and mystery and ultimately turn into true page-turners.
PREMIUM
How to Survive Your Murder
A must read for slasher fans, and sure to delight any readers looking for a thrill.
PREMIUM
Belladonna
Put into the hands of readers looking for a dark fantasy with a hint of mysterious intrigue.
Reminiscent of Natasha Friend’s The Other F-Word and Robin Benway’s Far From the Tree. Highly recommended.
Realistic teen characters, hypnotic writing, and an honest portrayal of adolescence make this debut a perfect choice for fans of Sarah Zarr, Tiffany D. Jackson, and Phillippe Diederich.
PREMIUM
The Memory Index
A clever and empathetic work of speculative fiction that examines the power and fragility of memory, recommended for general purchase. Cinematic writing, teen sleuthing, and a nostalgic setting make this book a great recommendation to fans of Stranger Things.
Details about Sally’s past and a chance to spend more time with beloved characters will appeal greatly to fans of the original movie but may not tempt others.
PREMIUM
Thornwood
Almasy skillfully ensures each of Cypess’s characters gets distinctly heard in a rousing celebration of empowering sisterhood.
Recommended supplemental purchase for professional development.
Useful, if a bit flawed; this compendium serves as a dual crash course on readers’ advisory and genre blends for anyone recommending youth materials.
PREMIUM
Playing Games in the School Library: Developing Game-Based Lessons and Using Gamification Concepts
Pavey’s text is dense with ideas, from copyright to assessment, and is always centered on the student. School and public librarians considering adding game-based learning to their list of accomplishments would do well to start here.
A delightful book that amuses and educates. Strong first purchase recommendation.
A delightful introduction to poetry; a valuable potential bonding experience for young children and their caregivers.
School librarians looking for STEAM titles that pair silliness with educational topics in the style of Douglas Florian will love this fun, math-themed poetry collection that joins English language arts and mathematics as a dynamic duo.
An engaging read, this is a fun and thoughtful work suitable for every young person living in our tech-driven world.
Beginning gamers along with intermediate gamers will find something of interest in this title. A recommended purchase for library collections.
The usefulness and timeliness of this book cannot be overstated. Committed young activists and entrepreneurs will grab this fascinating read like a lifeline.
A timely, inclusive, and necessary purchase for any library serving teenagers.
An important addition to a middle school library or public library YA collection.
PREMIUM
Uni’s Wish for Wings
Overall, a good addition to early reader collections to appeal to young patrons and help them improve their reading skills.
This is an accessible story that will help young children transition tothe expectations of school, especially when they are feeling trepidation themselves.
PREMIUM
Not Yet, Yeti
With vivid illustrations and a positive message, this book is a good addition to share with children nervous about trying something new.
This charming story is an excellent addition to preschool and kindergarten classroom collections that focus on social-emotional learning.
An excellent choice for back to school and “new kid” picture book collections. This will resonate with many readers. Highly recommended.
An excellent purchase for school libraries and public libraries with a big homeschooling community; a title to promote to teachers at the beginning of the school year.
This would be a wonderful book to read aloud on the first day of kindergarten so classes could create their own kindness pledge and then share it with others.
Though this book falls short in several important respects, libraries with larger collections might consider it.
With illustrations and text fully grounded in research, including welcome historical details and photographs that appear in the back matter, this book is heartily recommended for elementary nonfiction collections.
PREMIUM
Truth or Lie: Dogs!
It’s hard to go wrong when presenting young readers a book about dogs. Those looking to enhance their collection of nonfiction, science-based transitional readers will “sniff out” a great addition with this title.
As with all of Portis’s books, natural science is served sunny-side up, without a word out of place, in this essential guide.
PREMIUM
Mister Rogers’ Gift of Music
While other picture book biographies offer a more complete picture of this icon’s life, the focus on the musical elements, along with the wondrous illustrations, make this a recommended purchase.
In accessible and engaging illustrations, young readers will get excited about a tiny bubble and find plenty of fodder for story time discussion.
A wide audience of young readers will find plenty to cheer for in this winning overview, with its grand slam collection of timely facts and positive message.
A first purchase for all libraries serving children, this is a stunning biography.
While there is no back matter, this entertaining and informative title is a delightful read-aloud and a recommended addition to the nonfiction shelves.
PREMIUM
Cleopatra Tells All!
How sassy, and suitable to the subject, how divine. Cleopatra gets her due, and collections that own this volume are in for some wide circulation and legions of new fans.
PREMIUM
What Dwells in the Deep
The conversational tone and brevity of introduction make this suitable for preschoolers listening to a read-aloud or as a gateway book for promoting interest in further reading on ocean animals. Recommended for larger board book collections.
A beautiful book with wide appeal which would be an outstanding addition to any children’s collection.
While some may feel silly learning about someone who came in second, libraries interested in science-learning will find value in this volume as a study of collaboration and replication for future scientists.
Educators and other adults who work with children are likely to find inspiration in this collection; recommended, too, for public libraries where families heavily circulate crafts and recipes.
PREMIUM
Am I a Frog?
Written with short, concise sentences that are easy to understand for the earliest readers, this will be welcome as a classroom read-aloud to coincide with a biology unit.
PREMIUM
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day
A worthy addition to middle grade fiction collections, especially where books like Jason Reynold’s “Track” series is popular.
PREMIUM
A Perfect Mistake
Readers will enjoy a first-rate mystery which as an added benefit subtly reinforces the practice of empathy. Highly recommended.
Highly recommended for middle school readers who enjoy dystopian adventures and science.
A “perfect ride” of a graphic novel that shows that there really is something special about horse friends.
A welcome addition to any graphic novel collection, Invisible skillfully explores the negative impact of stereotyping while also offering an entertaining and spirited reading experience.
PREMIUM
The Black Slide
A good choice for libraries where readers are moving on from “Goosebumps” and are in search of something to bridge the gap to YA horror.
PREMIUM
The First Rule of Climate Club
A great choice for middle grade readers interested in climate change, social justice, and student activism.
PREMIUM
Shades of Rust and Ruin
This fantasy-horror-steampunk quest will please readers who love complex language, lush descriptions, and plots as twisty and deceptive as Celtic knots. Hand it to fans of the movie Labyrinth who are ready for a grittier, but equally labyrinthine matching of wits with the devious fae.
PREMIUM
My Imaginary Mary
Give this book to younger fans of historical fiction and tentative fantasy who aren’t familiar with Shelley’s work and want an easy entry into this time period.
Hand this to anyone who loves tarot, astrology, and witchy things; enthusiasts of short story collections like Meet Cute or Hungry Hearts; and fans of Ashley Elston and Jenny Han.
PREMIUM
Never Coming Home
A summery, social media–focused murder mystery with light gore, perfect for fans of the “#MurderTrending” series or the work of Karen M. McManus.
PREMIUM
Neverlanders
Create room on the shelf for this new fantasy graphic novel with roots in the classic, filled with action-packed battles and splendid depictions of a steampunk world.
PREMIUM
Cake Eater
Add this to your YA collection and encourage history buffs looking for new fiction to take a chance on it.
PREMIUM
The Elusive Samurai, Vol. 1
A solid, if not spectacular, new historical manga from the creator behind “Assassination Classroom.” Worth considering for collections where ancient Japan or action manga are popular.
A good buy where horror anthologies are popular. Hand this book to fans of “good for her” horror movies like The Witch and listeners of horror anthology podcasts such as Old Gods of Appalachia and The Magnus Archives.
Readers will be hooked from page one of Maddy’s intense journey that detonates on prom night.
PREMIUM
Those Summer Nights
Readers who have enjoyed other summer romances featuring unusual jobs, like Maurene Goo’s The Way You Make Me Feel, Jennifer Dugan’s Hot Dog Girl, and Morgan Matson’s The Unexpected Everything, will find this one to be similarly engaging.
PREMIUM
The Loophole
Kutub’s debut occasionally turns bewildering with excessive narrative prongs, but Jain adroitly guides readers through.
The choosiest audiences might turn to the page to enjoy Oh’s girl-power adventure.
PREMIUM
An Arrow to the Moon
Following the bestselling success of Pan’s The Astonishing Color of After debut, demand will be high for her sophomore effort. Libraries will want multiple formats.
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